Toilet bowl structure

ABSTRACT

The invention involves providing a lower chamber in a toilet bowl with at least a pair of substantially aligned clean-out openings whereby a cleaning instrument may be extended through either or both of the openings for cleaning the chamber.

United States Patent Braun, Sr.

[ 1 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] TOILET BOWL STRUCTURE [21] Appl. No.: 77,429

[52] U.S. Cl ..4/257, 4/69 [51] Int. Cl ..E03d 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..4/69, 257

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,342,016 6/1920 Farris ..4/257 X 658,222 9/1900 Schifflin ..4/257 X 1,235,160 7/1917 Reichert ..4/257 UX 613,846 11/1898 Phelan ..4/69 1,265,248 5/1918 Reinhart et a1. ..4/257 X 1,275,768 8/1918 Schuh ..4/257 2,016,636 10/1935 Henn ..4/257 2,167,597 7/1939 Webb ..4/257 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 498,495 10/1919 France ..4/257 15,546 11/1886 Great Britain ..4/257 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Charles S. Penfold [57] ABSTRACT The invention involves providing a lower chamber in a toilet bowl with at least a pair of substantially aligned clean-out openings whereby a cleaning instrument may be extended through either or both of the openings for cleaning the chamber.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 I I972 R m5 N 5 M MM m D m F ATTORNEY TOILET BOWL STRUCTURE The bowl embodying the subject invention comprises, among other things, an oblong receptacle having an upper hollow rim provided with an aperture and a bottom wall having a centrally disposed outlet, a platform disposed below the outlet and forming in combination with the receptacle and a rear wall of the bowl a curved underpass or passageway, a base having an elongated horizontal lower chamber provided with a bottom discharge outlet, a substantially vertical front duct or passage communicatively connecting the underpass and chamber, and an inlet which connects with the interior of the rim and underpass so that when water is introduced from a flush tank (not shown) it will flow into the rim and through the aperture therein into the receptacle as well as through the underpass for flushing out any waste matter in the receptacle and/or on the platform to the discharge chamber via the front duct for final flow from the bowl through the chamber outlet.

An important object of the invention is to provide a bowl which includes a relatively large housing forming an internal area which is divided by a platform or partition to form a forward part of the underpass, the front duct, and the lower chamber above referred to.

More particularly, a significant objective of the invention is to provide a bowl of the character described above, in which a front wall of the bowl or housing is preferably provided with a pair of vertically spaced clean-out openings, one of which is located at the junction between the duct and underpass and the other at the fore end of the discharge chamber whereby to facilitate cleaning of the underpass and duct.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bowl structure in which a rear wall of the housing or base of the bowl is provided with a clean out opening at the rear end of the lower chamber whereby to facilitate cleaning of this chamber, its outlet, and/or the duct.

A specific but very important object of the invention is to provide a bowl structure in which the lower front and rear clean-out openings, above referred to, are substantially axially aligned so that, for example, a cleaning instrument may be extended into either of these openings or through both whereby any compacted waste or foreign matter lodged in the chamber may be readily loosened for discharge through the chamber outlet when the toilet is flushed or pulled or pushed out of the openings depending on the character of the waste or foreign matter.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section taken through a toilet bowl embodying the invention to illustrate the structural details thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the bowl depicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing the structure of one of the three clean-out openings provided in the bowl structure.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, numeral 1 generally designates an oblong or oval bowl structure having a rear hollow overhang 2 adapted for supporting a flush tank, not shown, for discharging water through an inlet 3 into a chamber 4 formed in the overhang. The bowl has an oval or oblong hollow rim 5 the interior of which communicates with the chamber 4 so that water may flow through the rim and an aperture 6 therein for discharge into a receptacle 7 having a bottom centrally disposed outlet 8. This receptacle is formed by a pair of corresponding sloping side walls 9, a forwardly and downwardly extending rear wall 10 and a rearwardly and downwardly extending front wall 12, all of which converge toward the outlet 8.

The overhang 2, alluded to above, includes an upper horizontal wall 12 which is provided with the inlet 3 and serves to support a fitting 13 to which is pivotally connected a seat 14 adapted for placement on the rim 5 in a conventional manner.

The bowl as shown in FIG. 2 has side walls which taper downwardly to provide a pair of lower opposed substantially parallel sidewall portions 15, which portions in combination with a front wall 16, a lower rear short wall 17, a horizontal base wall 18, and the lower portions of the receptacle define a relatively large internal area which is divided by a platform or partition 19 located below the receptacle to form a curved passageway or underpass 20 and a lower elongated horizontal discharge chamber 21 provided with an outlet 22 and a substantially vertical front duct or passage 23 which communicatively connects the underpass 20 and chamber 21. It should be observed that the front wall 11 of the receptacle and the front wall 16 of the bowl generally converge upwardly to form a generally tapered area or junction which communicatively connects the fore end of the underpass and the duct and that the platform has a horizontal portion 24 directly below the receptacle outlet 8 and an upwardly forwardly extending or inclined portion 25 which divides the junction to form the duct 23 and at least the forward portion of the underpass 20. It should be further observed that the bowl is provided with an inclined or sloping rear wall 26 located intermediate the lower rear wall 17 and the overhang 2 above referred to, and that this intermediate wall in combination with the sidewalls of the bowl and the rear wall 10 of the receptacle 7 defines a rear curved portion of the passageway or underpass 20 and that the platform 19 more or less constitutes a continuation of the intermediate rear wall 26 of the bowl.

The invention contemplates providing the upper portion of the front wall 16 of the bowl with a clean-out opening 27 as best depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawing. An internally threaded tubular member 28 is preferably permanently secured in the opening by upsetting an inner cylindrical portion of the member against an internal surface of the front wall 16 as indicated at 29 and for clamping a resilient element 30, such as a washer, between an outwardly extending annular flange 31 of the member and an external surface of the wall 16 to provide a liquid tight connection between the member and bowl. A closure 32 is provided with an externally threaded portion for engaging the threads of the member and with an outwardly extending annular flange 33 whereby a seal 34, preferably in the form of a resilient washer, may be interposed between this flange and the flange 31 of the member to provide a leakproof connection between the closure and member. The closure is also preferably provided with a hexagonal recess 35 whereby to facilitate reception of an appropriate tool in order that the closure may be readily secured in place or removed.

Attention is directed to the fact that the internal diameter of the tubular member 28 is preferably of a sufficient size so that an instrument such as a rigid or flexible rod may be inserted therethrough and into the passageway 20 and/or at least into the upper extremity of the front duct 23 whereby any compacted waste or lodged foreign matter therein may be loosened for flow into the chamber 21 for final discharge through its outlet 22 when the toilet is flushed. In some instances, depending on the character of the waste or foreign matter it may become necessary to withdraw at least some of the same out through the opening.

Of particular significance is the fact that the lower portion of the front wall 16 is preferably provided with a front cleanout opening 36 and that the lower rear wall 17 of the bowl with a rear clean-out opening 37 which is substantially axially aligned with the opening 36. The openings 36 and 37 are respectively provided with tubular members and plugs which correspond to the tubular member 28 and and plug 32 described above. Otherwise expressed, the chamber 21 is provided with the clean-out openings which afford access thereto through its ends.

It should be noted that the lower rear wall 17 is preferably slightly inclined, the purpose of which is to facilitate entry of a suitable instrument, such as a rigid or inflexible rod provided with a brush, through the clean-out opening into the chamber 21, into its outlet 22, or at least into the lower extremity of the duct 23 and that the lower clean-out opening is so disposed that a suitable instrument may be utilized to clean out the chamber 21 or its outlet or lower extremity of the duct 23 of any waste or foreign matter lodged therein. More explicitly, an instrument may be extended into the chamber through either or both of the lower clean-out openings. The location of lower clean-out openings is important as they afford access to the interior of the chamber in such a way that if the density of compacted waste or the character of the foreign matter is such that it cannot be readily loosened for flushing through the outlet of the chamber, a rod may be utilized to poke or drive out at least portions of the waste or foreign matter through either of the lower clean-out openings.

In view of the foregoing it should be manifest that the structure described offers advantages with respect to cleaning out internal areas of a bowl structure in a unique mode.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions and arrangements, and combinations of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A toilet bowl having an inlet for connection with a supply of liquid, said bowl comprising a receptacle provided with a bottom outlet, structure forming a curved passageway under said receptacle and a lower horizontal discharge chamber having an outlet communicating with said passageway, a front duct connecting said passageway and said chamber, and a pair of aligned clean-out openings respectively located at the front and rear of said chamber whereby an instrument may be inserted into either of the openings in order to facilitate cleaning of said chamber.

2. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said discharge chamber is elongated and the clean-out openings are respectively located in substantially axial alignment at the ends of the chamber whereby an instrument may be inserted into either of the openings or through both.

3. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the clean-out openings are so aligned and located with respect to the outlet in the chamber that an instrument may be inserted into the front or rear openings or into the outlet via the rear opening.

4. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said passageway is formed in part by said receptacle and a forwardly extending platform located below said receptacle.

5. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said passageway is formed in part by said receptacle and a forwardly extending platform located below said receptacle, the passageway and chamber are communicatively connected by a front substantially vertical duct, and said duct is formed in part by said platform.

6. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the axis of the clean-out opening at the rear of the chamber is inclined so that an instrument may be inserted therethrough into the chamber or its outlet whereby to facilitate cleaning thereof.

7. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the openings are normally closed by detachable plugs.

8. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the passageway and chamber are communicatively connected by a front substantially vertical duct, the bowl is provided with an upper cleanout opening affording access to said passageway and duct, and an instrument may be inserted through the rear opening into the chamber or its outlet or said duct whereby to facilitate cleaning thereof. 

1. A toilet bowl having an inlet for connection with a supply of liquid, said bowl comprising a receptacle provided with a bottom outlet, structure forming a curved passageway under said receptacle and a lower horizontal discharge chamber having an outlet communicating with said passageway, a front duct connecting said passageway and said chamber, and a pair of aligned clean-out openings respectively located at the front and rear of said chamber whereby an instrument may be inserted into either of the openings in order to facilitate cleaning of said chamber.
 2. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said discharge chamber is elongated and the clean-out openings are respectively located in substantially axial alignment at the ends of the chamber whereby an instrument may be inserted into either of the openings or through both.
 3. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the clean-out openings are so aligned and located with respect to the outlet in the chamber that an instrument may be inserted into the front or rear openings or into the outlet via the rear opening.
 4. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said passageway is formed in part by said receptacle and a forwardly extending platform located below said receptacle.
 5. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which said passageway is formed in part by said receptacle and a forwardly extending platform located below said receptacle, the passageway and chamber are communicatively connected by a front substantially vertical duct, and said duct is formed in part by said platform.
 6. The boWl defined in claim 1, in which the axis of the clean-out opening at the rear of the chamber is inclined so that an instrument may be inserted therethrough into the chamber or its outlet whereby to facilitate cleaning thereof.
 7. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the openings are normally closed by detachable plugs.
 8. The bowl defined in claim 1, in which the passageway and chamber are communicatively connected by a front substantially vertical duct, the bowl is provided with an upper clean-out opening affording access to said passageway and duct, and an instrument may be inserted through the rear opening into the chamber or its outlet or said duct whereby to facilitate cleaning thereof. 